Couldn't Start Dropbox - macOS Monterey

[amiralin]

After installing the new macOS Monterey I am getting the below error 

Couldn't start Dropbox

This is usually because of a permissions error. Storing your home folder on a network share can also cause an error. For more information, click the help button below.

I tried to remove dropbox using instructions on the website and re-install using advance install and still see the error. 

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox

bn.VERSION: 133.4.4089

bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 51

bn.is_frozen: True

machine_id: 523bf589-eb29-56d6-9beb-1631aa56ce2b

pid: 1077

ppid: 1

uid: 501

user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='amirnathoo', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Amirali Nathoo', pw_dir='/Users/amirnathoo', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')

effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='amirnathoo', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=501, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Amirali Nathoo', pw_dir='/Users/amirnathoo', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')

euid: 501

gid: 20

egid: 20

group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])

effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root'])

DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None

cwd: '/'

     real_path='/'

            mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

     parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0

HOME: '/Users/amirnathoo'

appdata: '/Users/amirnathoo/.dropbox/instance1'

         real_path='/Users/amirnathoo/.dropbox/instance1'

                mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20

         parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

dropbox_path: '/Users/amirnathoo/Dropbox'

              real_path='/Users/amirnathoo/Dropbox'

                    mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20

              parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'

                real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'

                      mode=0o100755 uid=501 gid=20

                parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'

                real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'

                      not found

                parent not found

tempdir: '/var/folders/xq/rpxg71x17dj4ylbw_svqhdjc0000gn/T'

         real_path='/private/var/folders/xq/rpxg71x17dj4ylbw_svqhdjc0000gn/T'

                mode=0o40700 uid=501 gid=20

         parent mode=0o40755 uid=501 gid=20

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 808, in wrapper

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6497, in finish_dropbox_boot

  File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 307, in _wrapped

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6030, in _init_components_for_account

  File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 5954, in create_sync_engine

  File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 226, in make_sync_engine

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 280, in __init__

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 222, in __init__

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 152, in __init__

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 587, in _init_new_engine_locked

  File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 185, in __init__

  File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__

nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> fchflags syscall: _set_hidden |>> Permission denied"

please assist

[KFja]

Thanks! That worked for me. 

[robraquet]

I do not have utility on my launchpad. 

[robraquet]

bn.BUILD_KEY: Dropbox
bn.VERSION: 139.4.4896
bn.constants.WINDOWS_SHELL_EXT_VERSION: 51
bn.is_frozen: True
machine_id: ba467653-af18-5d7a-aba1-ebb8408cf027
pid: 27189
ppid: 1
uid: 502
user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='robertraquet', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Robert Raquet', pw_dir='/Users/robertraquet', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
effective_user_info: pwd.struct_passwd(pw_name='robertraquet', pw_passwd='********', pw_uid=502, pw_gid=20, pw_gecos='Robert Raquet', pw_dir='/Users/robertraquet', pw_shell='/bin/zsh')
euid: 502
gid: 20
egid: 20
group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_nsurlstoraged'])
effective_group_info: grp.struct_group(gr_name='staff', gr_passwd='*', gr_gid=20, gr_mem=['root', '_nsurlstoraged'])
DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH: None
cwd: '/'
real_path='/'
mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
parent mode=0o40755 uid=0 gid=0
HOME: '/Users/robertraquet'
appdata: '/Users/robertraquet/.dropbox/instance1'
real_path='/Users/robertraquet/.dropbox/instance1'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
dropbox_path: '/Users/robertraquet/Dropbox (PH&C)'
real_path='/Users/robertraquet/Dropbox (PH&C)'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
sys_executable: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/MacOS/Dropbox'
mode=0o100755 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
trace.__file__: '/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
real_path='/Applications/Dropbox.app/Contents/Resources/python-packages.zip/dropbox/client/ui/common/boot_error.pyc'
not found
parent not found
tempdir: '/var/folders/qs/zv8j96391q36znlq8brm9c280000gp/T'
real_path='/private/var/folders/qs/zv8j96391q36znlq8brm9c280000gp/T'
mode=0o40700 uid=502 gid=20
parent mode=0o40755 uid=502 gid=20
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 837, in wrapper
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6648, in finish_dropbox_boot
File "dropbox/client/message_queue.pyc", line 313, in _wrapped
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6196, in _init_components_for_account
File "dropbox/client/main.pyc", line 6120, in create_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine_boundary/factory.pyc", line 218, in make_sync_engine
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/sync_engine.pyc", line 268, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/modern_client.pyc", line 250, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/modern_client/base.pyc", line 188, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 217, in __init__
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/classic_client/thin_adapter/in_proc.pyc", line 529, in _init_new_engine_locked
File "dropbox/sync_engine/nucleus/thin_client/client.pyc", line 133, in __init__
File "desktop/extensions/nucleus/nucleus_python.pyx", line 76, in nucleus_python.NucleusSyncEngine.__cinit__
nucleus_python.SyncEngineError: "Initializing engine |>> Initializing filesystem |>> Attempting to register icons |>> Reading existing xattr |>> fgetxattr syscall: determined size |>> Permission denied"

[amiralin]

See solution in this thread https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-installs-integrations/Couldn-t-Start-Dropbox-macOS-Monterey/...

[cassiem]

hi there,

I had the same problem and found this link and checked the instructions but I'm not sure what the 'terminal application' is, can you help answer that? 

Thank you

[Mig190]

Same problem as everyone else.  Have tried all the recommended fixes multiple times to no effect.  Dropbox is not opening. I'm running macOS Catalina (10.15.7).  Need help.

[Mig190]

I found my solution.  

After uninstalling Dropbox & rebooting, I checked the macOS System Preferences/Security & Privacy section.  Even with Dropbox uninstalled the app was still showing in Accessibility/Full Disk Access/Files and Folders.  I removed those "old" Dropbox permissions, rebooted, reinstalled, and gave Dropbox all the needed access, and that worked.

In short, after uninstalling make sure the app permissions are also removed before reinstalling.

[jwhite711]

I attempted the logical steps as far as:

1. Security, Privacy, Accessibility, Full disk, etc. 

2. Several Attempts Install/Reinstall/Uninstall, repeat.

3. I even reset the permissions. 

4. Attempted to run binary from terminal as suko (admin) with password.

PROBLEM:

  None of the above worked for me. In addition, after installing, the folder will not even show up in Finder. The App however does, but just hangs forever without opening.

  Furthermore, I never have had any of these issues until upgrading to Monterey. Therefore, that seems like the most logical problem, and DropBox may simply not be compatible for this version.

SOLUTION?

  As a result, the makers may just have to put some effort into updating the program, offering a real solution rather than avoiding it, and driving everyone nuts trying to find a workaround! The Problem is clear, Just Fix It Please! Thanks...

[dgar1]

worked for me! Thank you.  Turned out that Dropbox was not selected under the Privacy>Full Disk Access selection.  This saved me a huge amount of time.

[bhikkhu s.]

Thank you very much!

I've also learned something about the Apple Security system.